South African documentary SPOILED wins sustainability award

The South African short feature documentary ‘SPOILED’ has won the ‘Terres de l’Ebre’ Award for Best Film Promoting Sustainability at the 10th Terres Travel Festival in Tortosa, Spain. Selected from 157 entries representing 29 countries, the film was recognized as one of the festival’s two Great Awards.

Produced by Wildtrust and Love Africa Marketing in collaboration with The Green Connection, the documentary profiles coastal communities, fishers, scientists, and activists resisting offshore oil and gas exploration along South Africa’s coastline. The film highlights the environmental, social, and economic risks facing the region, noting that approximately 90% of South Africa’s mainland ocean territory is threatened by such exploration.

Through interviews with community leaders, youth, and local fishers, ‘SPOILED’ examines systemic issues including flawed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), insufficient public consultation, and the leasing of ocean space without community consent. The film features footage from the Northern Cape and the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape.